Crappey Diem: WCBB Attendance [merged thread]

[RockyMTblue2]

First off, I wanna say I will not start another thread today, okay. But I came upon this article and it was more than a bit depressing and got me thinking about the early round venues, $, and committee decisions. I will not talk about the latter, because who wants to wander around in the minds of a bunch of old b.dd...s. We UConners are confronted with declining attendance and we wring our hands over it, but the unprecedented TV coverage for UConn explains much if not all of it for me (and I don't care a whit for your opinions but would love to hear them).

Now, Texas is a hot bed of WBB development and a historically important part of the legacy of WCBB. And Karen Aston is doing a very good job of reawakening the Texas program, so why do we have to read this?

WTF: Where's the fans? Texas, women's basketball trying to address attendance | Hookem.com

 

[Plebe]

First off, I wanna say I will not start another thread today, okay. But I came upon this article and it was more than a bit depressing and got me thinking about the early round venues, $, and committee decisions. I will not talk about the latter, because who wants to wander around in the minds of a bunch of old b.dd...s. We UConners are confronted with declining attendance and we wring our hands over it, but the unprecedented TV coverage for UConn explains much if not all of it for me (and I don't care a whit for your opinions but would love to hear them).

Now, Texas is a hot bed of WBB development and a historically important part of the legacy of WCBB. And Karen Aston is doing a very good job of reawakening the Texas program, so why do we have to read this?

WTF: Where's the fans? Texas, women's basketball trying to address attendance | Hookem.com

Rocky, it's a great, thought-provoking article — and never, ever apologize for starting a thread for an interesting article! You and others who are willing to share articles and kick-start discussions are the lifeblood of this forum.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Are we ever going to see you face Plebe?

 

[1-of-the-6]

Are we ever going to see you face Plebe?

Are we ever going to see a photo of an eagle, anywhere, who doesn't look pissed off?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Are we ever going to see a photo of an eagle, anywhere, who doesn't look pissed off?

Hey, you drive your Eldorado into Chuckey Cheese's order line and catch a meal (that'll kill you )because you can't face your refrigerator and microwave, while I have to swoop from 2000 feet and pluck a trout out of water 18 inches deep or pluck a rodent of the ground or splatter on it AND you wonder why I always look pissed off!

 

[1-of-the-6]

One point that is made in the article is definitely true, that being that the vast majority of those that attend women's games are over 50 and under 10. Pretty much the only members of that middle demographic that are in attendance are there with their under-10 kids.

Why are the seniors there? One reason is probably that it's an affordable sport to watch.

Why the absence of the huge age group in the middle? I believe that it's because women students and young adults are just not as interested in watching sports as their male counterparts. So, if they go to games at all, which they do far more than when I was young, it's to the men's games, where their male dates and husband prefer to go.

 

[triaddukefan]

One point that is made in the article is definitely true, that being that the vast majority of those that attend women's games are over 50 and under 10. Pretty much the only members of that middle demographic that are in attendance are there with their under-10 kids.
.

Well Im under 50..... and over 10......... and I dont have any kids......

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Well Im under 50..... and over 10.... and I dont have any kids.

Do you wear a pocket protector?

 

[j66kicker]

I'm over 50, but I wasn't when I lived in CT and attended every UConn women's game I possibly could (I eft in 2004). Tickets were very difficult to get/scam, and a group of us would drive all over hell and back to see away games because we couldn't get tickets for all the home games. When we got to those away games we discovered a WHOLE bunch of other UConn fans doing the same thing.

But even back then the first rounds of the NCAA's were not that well attended. I remember there being a couple thousand empty seats in the Civic Center (XL), etc. ???

 

[1-of-the-6]

I'm over 50, but I wasn't when I lived in CT and attended every UConn women's game I possibly could (I eft in 2004). Tickets were very difficult to get/scam, and a group of us would drive all over hell and back to see away games because we couldn't get tickets for all the home games. When we got to those away games we discovered a WHOLE bunch of other UConn fans doing the same thing.

But even back then the first rounds of the NCAA's were not that well attended. I remember there being a couple thousand empty seats in the Civic Center (XL), etc. ???

Well, I was only about 44 (no pocket protector) when I started, too. And maybe because of all the success, UCONN is an exception. But when the cameras scan the stands at other arenas, it sure looks like almost all older couples and families with dancing kids. Not many students, and not many twenties-thirties that will hit the bars after the game. They're already there.

 

[triaddukefan]

Do you wear a pocket protector?

we need a dislike button around here... but this will do in the meantime

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I'm over 50, but I wasn't when I lived in CT and attended every UConn women's game I possibly could (I eft in 2004). Tickets were very difficult to get/scam, and a group of us would drive all over hell and back to see away games because we couldn't get tickets for all the home games. When we got to those away games we discovered a WHOLE bunch of other UConn fans doing the same thing.

But even back then the first rounds of the NCAA's were not that well attended. I remember there being a couple thousand empty seats in the Civic Center (XL), etc. ???

You're dead on and that puzzled the heck out of me, because the general level of excitement was pretty darn high. We've become so much more use to following "the greatest" now. I hope every seat is filled for the next 2 games.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

we need a dislike button around here... but this will do in the meantime

View attachment 20840

I have more hair than that guy! But you never answered my question.

 

[UConnNick]

Texas will never be WCBB territory. Heck, when UCONN plays the Texas men in Austin it never sells out. UT fans barely understand what the game of BB is about. To them it's something to pass the time between football and baseball season. They make absolutely no noise unless they're ahead in the games, which wasn't too often for their men's team this season. A tiny contingent of UCONN fans in the upper reaches of the Erwin Center can make enough noise to be heard by the entire crowd. They just don't care about BB in general.

You can basically write off the entire football belt for WCBB attendance. Tennessee was a notable exception, Baylor and South Carolina have also been, but those are oases in a desert of apathy. Even the BB crazy ACC doesn't draw much WCBB attendance. Conn. and the handful of other places that draw large crowds are all outliers.

 

[triaddukefan]

Well, I was only about 44 (no pocket protector) when I started, too. And maybe because of all the success, UCONN is an exception. But when the cameras scan the stands at other arenas, it sure looks like almost all older couples and families with dancing kids. Not many students, and not many twenties-thirties that will hit the bars after the game. They're already there.

At the Duke games I attend, there are a good number of blue hairs..... but a fair amount of middle tier 20-49 ages people there...... its a pretty diverse crowd.... and of course there are youngsters ( 18 and under ) as well. Im not sure what the crowd in Columbia (SC) is like on game day..... but the 5 times Ive been around them (twice at Duke, and twice at the 2015 regionals...... I cant recall the 2002 regional final) the traveling crowd seemed younger than the average stereotypical WCBB fan.

I have more hair than that guy! But you never answered my question.

Of course not. And my pants are the correct length as well.

 

[j66kicker]

Well, I was only about 44 (no pocket protector) when I started, too. And maybe because of all the success, UCONN is an exception. But when the cameras scan the stands at other arenas, it sure looks like almost all older couples and families with dancing kids. Not many students, and not many twenties-thirties that will hit the bars after the game. They're already there.

Ya the issue is the 'new' "older than 10/younger than 50" generation hasn't caught on. Nationally there never really was 'good' attendance except for a few hot spots. But there were more hot spots than there are now, and even the ones that are left have dwindled in attendance somewhat. I've been to several final fours, and the ones "back when" were much better attended, or tickets were in higher demand. Some were held in the end of a domed football stadium, like the men still do sometimes, to increase seating capacity.

 

[Charliebball]

Per Raul: Less then stellar regular season attendance at UT and the NCAA regional in Austin won't be doing much better

WTF: Where's the fans? Texas, women's basketball trying to address attendance | Hookem.com

 

[UConnNick]

Ya the issue is the 'new' "older than 10/younger than 50" generation hasn't caught on. Nationally there never really was 'good' attendance except for a few hot spots. But there were more hot spots than there are now, and even the ones that are left have dwindled in attendance somewhat. I've been to several final fours, and the ones "back when" were much better attended, or tickets were in higher demand. Some were held in the end of a domed football stadium, like the men still do sometimes, to increase seating capacity.

The men's Final Four has been held in domed football stadiums exclusively for many years. Most of the four regionals also have been for the past 10 years or more.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

It's a problem everywhere. If our men's team had the 5 year record of our women's team, they'd average 18,000 a game. If our football team had that record, there would be an addition. It pains me when people incessantly criticize WBB. It is abhorrent when women do it.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

Well Im under 50..... and over 10.... and I dont have any kids.

I'm no longer under 50, but I still attended games, even while in college. How much is poor attendance tied to misogyny? Is it fair game to mention that elephant in the room? I honestly think that when I hear people gripe about lack of dunking, low athleticism, etc.

 

[j66kicker]

I'm no longer under 50, but I still attended games, even while in college. How much is poor attendance tied to misogyny? Is it fair game to mention that elephant in the room? I honestly think that when I hear people gripe about lack of dunking, low athleticism, etc.

Fair game, but that's not what I think it is. Why don't more women go to the games? Surely they're not misogynistic. I think it just comes down to interest.

There are a few schools that consistently field teams of great athletes who get great coaching and play hard with crisp execution. "Athleticism" doesn't have to be "dunking", but basketball IS an athletic sport. Gabby Williams type "elite athleticism" gets a lot of love here on the BY. For many, without some or all of those things watching WBB can be a big snore. For me the number of top teams which will hold my interest is probably a dozen, give or take. WNBA is very top-heavy too. There are maybe 4-5 teams out of the 12 that I can stand to watch a whole game (4 had winning records last year).

Maybe it comes down to there just aren't that many good coaches coaching WBB. Here on the BY prominent top-25 coaches - even top 5 coaches - are routinely criticized for their lack of basketball knowledge and coaching skills. And some of the coaches who ARE good can't get enough really good players because there aren't enough of those either.

The really sad thing is much of D1 (and other) WCBB is only subsidized as a result of Title IX. So we have more scholarships and more teams, etc. But there aren't enough interested fans to sustain WBB on its own (including the WNBA). And no affirmative action law requiring the fans to go to watch games if they don't find them interesting.

 

[gamer]

I'm not sure why Texas doesn't get bigger crowds. During Jody Conradt's heyday in the late 70's and on up through the 90's, there were sometimes huge crowds, 10,000 and more. Several possibilities --- Austin was more of a sleepy college town then. It has grown into a major metropolis with a plethora of entertainments. The arena is somewhat hard to get to, and this year is surrounded by unpleasant construction of a medical school. Ticket prices are high. Parking prices are high. It's a major hike for students, unlike the volleyball team which plays smack in the middle of campus, in the wonderful old college gym and drawing a large committed crowd of students. It's not that basketball is not loved in Texas. High school gyms are packed around the state. Three NBA teams are in the state. This may be true at all colleges, but almost every game is televised. It's so easy to watch from your own living room rather than dealing with traffic, costs, etc. We're interested in the team for sure, but I guess just lazy. There was a great turnout for the Baylor game, a few more thousand more than usual. I'm hoping WBB gets the "cachet" that WC Volleyball seems to have here among millennials.

 

[triaddukefan]

Fair game, but that's not what I think it is. Why don't more women go to the games? Surely they're not misogynistic. I think it just comes down to interest.

.

My sister is two years older than ... growing up in the same house....... grew up watching Duke and ACC basketball....... I remember watching the UK-Duke Regional Final in 1992.... and we were hugging and yelling and screaming over the outcome..... back in the early 1990s when the Hornets were doing well with Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning..... she kept up with the team.... we even drove down to Charlotte for games every now and then........ she doesnt watch it as much as she used to... but she still tries to watch Duke men's when she can. But anyway she has NEVER had an interest in WCBB or the WNBA. I went to a few WNBA games in Charlotte when they had a franchise... I didnt even bother to ask her if she wanted to go. I joke with her on occasion and asked if she wanted to check out the Duke-Wake game in Winston-Salem.... she always laughs and of course says no........ I remember several years ago (2013) The Sweet 16 WCBB games were on Easter. I was over my parents house watching the Duke-Nebraska game....... my 90+ old grandmother showed more interest in the game than my sister. Few months ago I asked a female friend if she wanted to go to the Duke-Syracuse game.....she seemed interested... then I told her it was a Woman's game..... she politely declined Asked another female friend a few years ago if she wanted to go to a ACC WCBB tournament game..... I had to bribe her with lunch AND a whole cake for her to even consider...... Looking back.... through the years .. I've known two women who cared about Women's basketball..... just TWO.

 

[Charliebball]

Per Raul:

Attendance stats for Friday play

 

[Farney]

Jim Fuller reported that Gampel had 5,670 for today's first round games...